Grab rail and seat attachment for bathtubs



Sept. 27, 1938.

G. B BENTZ GRAB RAIL AND SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUB S Filed Feb. 28,1938 s Shegts-Shet 1 Fig.1

29 Fig.2..

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GRAB RAIL AND SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 28, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 3 L 1mm 1 08.10. 0/? s ,c

WITNESS dearyefi. 56127? Patented Sept. 27, 1938 PATE T Q GRABURAIL-ANDSEAT'ATTAbHMENT FOR BAT'HTUBS George B. Bentz, New York, N. Y.Application February 28, 1938, Serial No. 193,199

S'Clai'ms. (01. 155-53625) The invention aims to provide a novel bathtubattachment embodying both a seat to overlie the tub side wall, and agrab rail to assist when entering and leaving the tub.

6 In carrying out the above end, a further object is to provide a simpleand inexpensive, yet an efficient and reliable clamping means forefiectively clamping the attachment to the tub side wall.

Another object is to provide unique means for rotatably mounting theseat if desired.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, description beingaccomfiiplished by reference to the accompanying .drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the invention upon theside wall of a bathtub.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through 313116 tub wall and one ofthe vertically adjustable clamp members, the rest of the invention beingshown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the vertically adjustable clampmembers and the bolt and wing nut associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the construction Fig. 12 is a sectionalview showing a rotatable,

seat which may be used if desired, in connection with any form of theinvention abovedescribed.

Fig. 13 is a disassembled perspective view show-,

.ing the preferred manner of rotatably mounting the seat.

In Figs. 1 to 4, two arched clamps I2 are provided disposed in spacedparallel planes and rigidly connected by a grab rail I3. The upperportions of the clamps I3 support a seat I4 which may either be of fixedor non-rotatable type.

Each clamp I2 comprises a crown portion I5 to extend over the tub sidewall, an inner vertically elongated leg I6 rigidly joined to one end ofthe crown portion I5, and an outer vertically elongated leg I! rigidlyjoined to the other end of said crown portion, said legs I6 and I! beingpref' erably integralwith said crown portion I5. The grab rail I3 isrigidly connected at its ends with the lower ends of the inner legs I6.of the two clamps I2, said ends of said grab rail being pref-' walledtub. The legs I6 of theclamp members .1

I2, however, are provided with adjustable clamp members 2|, and adescription of one of these clamp members will sufiice for both.

The clamp member 2| comprises a vertical plate 22 disposed at the sideof'the leg I6 toward the tub side wall, and parallel vertical flanges.

23 integral with or otherwise joined to said plate 22 andslidablystraddling said leg I6, said flanges: 23 being provided withelongated slots 24 which diverge upwardly with respect to said leg. I6.In the present disclosure, a clamping bolt 25 passes through the leg I6and through the slots 24 and the portions of said bolt which projectvbeyond said leg, cooperate with the slot walls to wedge the clampingmember 2| toclamping position when said clamping member is lowered withrespect to said leg. Preferably a wing .nut 26 is provided on one end ofthe bolt 25 and the bolt head is provided with diametrical ribs or thelike 28 receivable in one of the slots 24 to hold.

said bolt against rotation when turning said nut.

By loosening the nut 26 and downwardly forcingthe clamp member 2 I, theclamp I2 may be tightly engaged with the tub side wall. Then by tightenjing the nut 26, the flanges 23 are inwardly moved into tight frictionalengagement with the leg I6 to hold said clampmember in operativeposition. If desired, a screw 29 may be carried by the clamp member 2|to abut the lower end of the leg I6 for forcibly sliding said member 2|downwardly. In the present showing, the screw 29 is threaded upwardlythrough a bottom flange 3|] which extends between the lower ends of theside flanges 23. Preferably, the plate 22 is provided with a covering 3|of rubber or the like to prevent injury of the tub wall.

To facilitate lifting and release of the clamp member 2| when theattachment is to be removed from the tub, I have shown a handle 32 onone of the flanges 23 but the use of such a handle is, of course,optional.

oFF1cEQ- In Figs. 6 and 7, two clamps l2 support a stationary orrotatable seat I4 and the inner legs l6 of these clamps are integrallyconnected by means of a grab rail 13*. The outer legs I'I of the clampsll are each provided with an integral horizontal extension 33 tounderlie the rolled rim 34 of an older type of bathtub, said extension33 having an upstanding lug or the like 35 which assists in providing aseat 36 for the lower edge of said rim. :Ahorizontally swingable arm 31is connected with the extension 33 by a clamp bolt or the like 38, saidarm 31 being provided with a clamp member 39 to abut the outer side ofthe tub wall. An adjustable clamp member 21 which may be considered asidentical with the member 2|, is carried by the leg I6 to; abut theinner side of the tub wall.

In Figs. 8 and 9, the two clamp members I2 which support the seat I4include inner legs 5 integrally connected by the grab rail l3 andouterlegs ll for dispositionat the outer side. of the rolledrim 34Horizontally swingable arms 3! areprovided to extend under the rim 34,said arms being provided with bearings 2& 38 rotatableupon the lowerends of the legs ll H integralwith their crown portions l5,'and withouter legs l? also integral with said crown portionsi l5, and thelaterally turned ends l8 of the grab rail l3 are integral with the lowerends OffSfiid legs IB The crown portions l5 are provided with rubberbuttons or the like l9 to rest on the. tub side wall, the other legs I!are provided with similar buttons or the like 20, and adjustable screws2| are threaded through the legs Hi to abut the inner side of the tubWall.

When the seat l4, M l4 'or I4 is to be of fixed nature, it may besecured upon the crown portions of the clamps in any suitable way, forinstance, by ordinary screws, bolts or the like, or by short straps suchas those shown at 40 in Figs. 10 and 11.

lower'plate 4| (see Figs. 12 and 13) is secured in anysuitable way uponthe crown portions of the two clamps and the seat is formed by anotherplate, the two plates being connected by a central pivot 42. A spider 43is interposed between the two plates, is rotatable on the pivot 42, andis provided with rings 44 which receive bearing balls 45, said ballscontacting with the two plates and thus anti-frictionally supporting theseat for rotation, to aid in entering and leaving the tub. Handles 43are preferably provided on the rotatable seat enabling the user tosteady himself while swinging his legs over the tub wall, with- When theseat is to be .of rotatable type, a

"'tu'b wall, and an outer leg rigidly joined to the other endof saidcrown portion to lie at the outer side of said tub wall; a hand railextending between the inner legs of the two clamps and rigidly joinedthereto, and a seat mounted upon the crown portions of the two clamps.

2. A bathtub attachment comprising two spaced arched clamps to straddlea bathtub side wall,

I eachiof saidgclamps comprising a crown portion to.:extend over the tubwall, an inner vertically elongated leg integrally joined to one end ofsaid crown portion to lie at the inner side of said tub wall, and anouter leg integrally joined to the other end of said crown portion tolie at the outer.

side of 'said tub wall; a one-piece grab rail extending between theinner legs of said clamps and having its ends integrally joined thereto,and

a seat mounted upon the crown portions of the two clamps.

3. In a bathtub attachment, a clamp to engage the upper portion of a tubside wall, said clamp having a leg for disposition at one side of saidwall, a clamp member slidably engaging said leg, said clamp memberhaving a vertical plate at the inner side of said leg and parallelvertical flanges straddling said leg and secured to said plate, saidflanges having slots which diverge upwardly with respect to said .plate,and projecting means on said leg received in said slots for coactionwith said slots to wedge said clamp member to clamping position whensaid clamp member is slid downwardly on said leg.

4; In a bathtub attachment, a clamp to engagethe upper portion of a tubside wall, said clamp having a leg for disposition at one side of saidwall, a clamp member slidably engaging said leg, said clamp memberhaving a vertical plate at the inner side of said leg and parallelvertical flanges straddling said leg and secured to said plate, saidflanges having slots. which diverge upwardly. with respect to saidplate, and a clamping bolt passing through said leg and through saidslots, said bolt and slots being cooperable when said bolt is loosened,to wedge said clamp member to clamping position when said clamp memberis slid downwardly. 55. A structure-as specified in claim 3, togetherwith a bottom flange connecting the lower ends ofsaid verticalflangesand underlying said leg, and a screw threaded upwardly throughsaid bottom flange and abutting the lower end of said leg for slidingsaid clamp member downwardly and holding it.

GEORGE B. BENTZ.

